IPCA Europe Conference on Religious Freedom Strasbourg 31 March – 2 April 2014 ”Prisoners Rights: Theological Imperative or Optional Extra?” Freedom of Religion or Believe for All Presentation by Christer Daelander Coordinator of Human Rights, Uniting Church in Sweden The European Baptist Federation Religious Freedom Representative
Freedom of Religion or Belief for All ”Illegal” Prayer in Turkey Raided Baptist church in Uzbekistan Article 18: The Universal The blue Mosque in Istanbul Declaration of Human rights Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance.
The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights Article 18 1. Everyone skall have the rigth to freedom of thought, conscience and religion. This right skall include freedom to have or to adopt a religon or belief of his choice, and freedom, either individually or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in worship, observance, practice and teaching. 2. No one skall be subject to coercion which would impair his freedom to have or to adopt a religion or belief of his choice. 3. Freedom to manifest one’s religion or beliefs may be subject only to such limitations as are prescribed by law and are necessary to protect public safety, order, health, or morals or the fundamental rights and freedoms of others. 4. The States Parties to the present Covenenat undertake to have respect for the liberty of parents and, when applicable, legal guardians to ensure the religious and moral education of their children in conformity with their own convictions.
Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) for All – What, Why and How? Planned training in Committee of Freedom Elstal/Germany November 2014 and Justice in the Baptist World Alliance
75% of the population in the world lack Religious Freedom Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekstan – three countries in the Turkic Belt where people live in oppression and religious restrictions in many ways Azerbajdzjan Uzbekistan Turkmenistan
Buzz-group discussion • From what countries have you seen or heard about violations of religious freedom for priosoners • What kind of problems?
Turkmenistan: Police raid on a Children camp outside the town on Mary in July 2013
Religious restrictions in Azerbaijan Religious groups in general and minority groups especially are very restricted in what they can do according to the 2010 amended religion law The Baptist Church in Baku Many believers don’t dear to confess openly their minority faith because of fear of reprisal.
Religious Freedom at stake This man worked in a Christian bookstore in Azerbaijan. One night he was beaten up – the police told him it was his own fault since he had become a Christian.
Religious Freedom problems According to the Constitution there is Religious Freedom, but the Religion Law is restrictive and breaks the international conventions and declarations signed by the Government. Already before 2009 the Protestant Churches had problems getting registration and many where harassed. 2010 an amended Religion Law came with more restrictions. A delegation from the Uniting Church in Sweden, the EBF and the BWA visit Azerbaijan in September 2013
Problems and discrimination - Believers are fired when employers learn about their faith. Zaur Balayev Hamid Shabanov - The Police survey religious meetings and bring participants in unregistrered meetings to crossexamination. -Leaders sometimes are arrested or fined on fabricated charges. - The Baptist Church in Baku tries to get registration – so far without sucess. In These two pastors from Aliabad have been arrested Aliabad the Baptist Church has tried for and in jail for alleged more than 15 years to get registration. crimes - in reality because of their activity in the Church.
The Churches in Aliabad in the back yards of pastor Zaur and pastor Hamid
Contacts with officials and diplomats In September 2013 a Meeting with the State Committee for delegation from Sweden and Work with Religious Associations Christer Daelander from the EBF, and Raimundo Barreto from the BWA visited Azerbaijan Meeting at the US Embassy in Baku Work for Religious Freedom includes contacts with local believers, with national authorities and the International Society
Buzz-group discussion • What is your experience of contacts with authorities in general in relation to Human Rights of prisoners? • What is your experience of contacts with the prison authorities in relation to Religious Freedom for prisoners?
Meeting the Metropolitan in Uzbekistan Cooperation with other religious groups are important
In Cooperation with the World Council of Churches Hearing about the misuse of HR Coordinator the Blasphemy law in Pakistan Christina Papazouglu
Pakistan Pakistan has a Blasphemy law causing both Christians and Muslims to be falsely accused, put in prison and sometimes killed.
Reporting about the situation in Azerbaijan in a meeting with the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe The OSCE had it’s Human Dimension meeting i Warsaw 23 September – 4 October 2013. Two representatives from the Uniting Church in Sweden brought a report on Azerbaijan from the EBF and the BWA to this meeting
UN in Geneva About 600 NGO has observatory status with the UN. The Baptist World Alliance has representation at the Un Human Rights Council in Geneva and also in New York
Training of Turkmen Christians in a Conference in Turkey The perscution in Turkmenistan prohibits religious groups to meet for conferences or meetings in their own country
Training seminar in Relgion and Law For Christian Leaders from Central Asia and Caucasus Tblisi November 2010
A training seminar inside Azerbaijan – is this possible? Yes! Says Ilya Zenchenko – the president of the Baptist Union of Azerbaijan
Religion is in the very center of the Human heart and must also be allowed in the public sphere
Religious Freedom and its ’ limitations Freedom of religion or belief protects people who have and who practice various forms of belief. The European Court of Human Rights defines the term belief as “views that attain a certain level of cogency, seriousness, cohesion and importance” 1 or “a coherent view on fundamental problems”. 2 Traditional, nontraditional and new religious beliefs are protected as are non-religious beliefs such as atheism, agnosticism, humanism and pacifism. The right not to have an opinion on questions of religion or belief, as well as to criticize any or all religious or non-religious beliefs is also protected.
Religious Freedom and its ’ limitations Examples of beliefs that have been denied protection by the European Court of Human Rights are a strong personal motivation to have ones’ ashes scattered at home and a belief in assisted suicide. (The texts on this and the following three pages come from the Swedish Mission Council)
Religious Freedom and its ’ limitations The State has the responsibility to protect the following seven aspects of Religious Freedom: 1. The freedom to have, choose, change or leave a religion or belief 2. Freedom to manifest a religion 3. Freedom from coercion. 4. Freedom from discrimination 5. Parents rights, childrens rights 6. The right to conscientious objection 7. Employers and employees
Religious Freedom and its ’ limitations What Freedom of Religion or Belief do not involve: 1. Special privileges for religious people 2. Religions or beliefs do not have the rights not to be criticized 3. You can not say whatever you want in the name of religion or belief 4. It does not include that public places must be free from manifestation or expression of religion or belief 5. The religion does not have the right to control their followers, whatever they think 6. No right to control other persons religious observance or for parents to enforce religious belief upon children who can decide for themselves 7. You cannot violate other Human Rights in the name of Freedom of Religion or Belief
Religious Freedom and its ’ limitations The European Convention Article 9: Freedom to manifest one’s religion or beliefs shall be subject only to such limitations as are prescribed by law and are necessary in a democratic society in the interests of public safety, for the protection of public order, health or morals, or for the protection of the rights and freedoms of others.
Theological and Biblical perspectives Old Testament • The Old Testament in the Bible does not speak about Religious Freedom for all but underline that there should not be any hindrance for people to seek a true worship with God. • A couple of texts are useful: o Exodus 31:16-17 Gods commands the people to observe the Sabbath and no earthly King or ruler could or should hinder this. o Micah 3:1-12 Gods condemns the rulers and the prophets leading the people astray and forcing them into evil worship
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